110th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

From tragedy and big seas to flat calm and floating, the 110th Chicago Mackinac Race was a race of extremes for the 289.4 nm course from the Chicago Lighthouse, just off Navy Pier, to Mackinac Island. After the Cruising Division start on July 20 and the Racing Division start on July 21, the 288-boat fleet was soon dealt with 20+ knots and six-to-eight foot seas as they sailed up Lake Michigan. Ultimately, 65 teams would retire. As the low moved east, the wind lightened and a weak high pressure system met the fleet in the northern part of the lake. Seventeen J/111s started, and it was Dave Irish’s Nosurprise that took Class honors, ahead of Richard Witzel’s Rowdy and Tom Dickson’s Warlock. For complete results, visit http://competitor.cycracetomackinac.com/results.cfm.